Bladder cancer may not be on your mind because even if you do regular checkups, breast exams, skin checks and pap smears are usually on the top of your list. Also, many think that bladder cancer is an elderly person`s disease, but every year there are more than 18.000 women diagnosed with this horrible disease in the U.S. alone.According to the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network a great percentage of women diagnosed with bladder cancer are already in advanced stage simply because they were not paying attention or misted its symptoms for something else.
Knowing the symptoms before it’s too late can significantly improve your chances of recovering.
Here are 5 common symptoms of bladder cancer every woman should know!
1. HAVING BLOOD IN YOUR URINE
This is an easy symptom for women to overlook, because it can go even months between occurrences and its basically painless.
“Many women ignore this symptom because they connect it with menstruation or menopause,” says Arjun Balar, M.D., an oncologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. Of course, blood in your urine doesn’t mean you have cancer, but make sure you discuss it with your doctor.
2. UTI-LIKE SYMPTOMS
Urinary tract infection and bladder cancer have very similar symptoms that often overlap. Some of them are: pain with urination, increased frequency to urinate or urgency to urinate. So, if you notice any of these symptoms and you`re having a hard time emptying your bladder then its time you have a talk with your doctor.
3. UNEXPLAINED PAIN
If you are experiencing pain in your flank area, pelvis, abdomen or even in your bones than tell your doctor about it. These types of pain are usually associated with advanced bladder cancers. Take special care if you`ve also had UTI symptoms or the aforementioned spotting.
4. DECREASED APPETITE
Losing your appetite is one of the most common cancer symptoms, bladder cancer included. According to Arjun Balar, M.D., if the cancer has spread or grown than you might experience weight loss or feel weak and tired all the time. Of course, don`t take any of this for granted, because there are a lot of other things that can mess with your appetite so have a talk with your doctor if this problem persists.
5. SMOKING
We know that smoking isn`t a symptom, but about 50% of women diagnosed with bladder cancer are smokers. There is no bigger risk factor for bladder cancer than smoking, so if you notice any of the symptoms above and you smoke than we strongly suggest you let your doctor know, ASAP.
One of the most important things is not to write off your symptoms and let your doctor determine if it`s something minor or you have a serious situation on your hands.
source: http://www.buzzfanzine.com
